Do I REALLY need a 5 string?

[Tom Howland]

Need ?
Like is another story.
I love the fact you have the option of using the B string when you want it.
Those low notes are fun.
We don't need no stinking keyboard player.

 

[topo morto]

I know it's a little ignorant of me but I always considered country music to be more "traditional" and not use lower notes. I see a lot of you 5-string bassists saying that 5-strings is great for country. I was surprised to see this. Do many country bands tune below E? I know next to nothing about country music.

Consider the most clichéd (but still useful!) country bassline - root, fifth below, root, fifth below... etc. On an EADG bass, if you want to play that pattern under a G chord, you have to play that at the 5th fret on D and A strings. That's so high that it's hardly even in the bass range, and it's going to get in the way of deep male vocals. Playing it at the third fret on the E and B string - that's where it should be.

 

[deste]

I think you may find it better to keep the 5 around in case you need it rather than have to go looking for another when that occasion arises.

+1
I usually play 4 (I'm a UB player too...), I have a 5 that I bought just for fun (it was a good deal) and I used it mainly in a fusion band (for the record and the tour) and in a pop tour where they absolutely needed an active fiver. After a while, it's been in its case at home. But always ready to play...

 

[randysmojo]

I'm trying to sell my 5 right now to go back to a 4. I've played 5's for over 10 years now, but also had to have carpel tunnel surgery. Might not be related but my hands do feel more comfortable wrapped around a 4 string neck, and I will be putting a drop D tuner on it because the low D is about as low as I ever went unless just being goofy and hitting a low C at the end of a song just to see the drummers eyes get big! I realized that not one of my favorite bass players regularly used or uses a 5 string either and the last few gigs with my 5 I paid attention and didn't use the B string at all without any problem. If you can do that, then you know you don't need the 5. Also mentioned before you can always tune BEAD. Have two 4 strings, one down tuned and one regular EADG. That way you can cover everything you might need.

 

[Mystic Michael]

I bought a 5 string a while back because I thought I may really need it with some of the gigs I was doing, but I've found that I haven't needed it with any of my gigs thus far. I can play it fairly proficiently, about the same as a 4 string. It really makes sense to me, I picked it up rather quickly. The thing is, I was going through my music collection and quickly realized that none of the music I listen to (besides an Erykah Badu live album) incorporates a 5 string. Most, if not all, of my favorite players are 4 string players. When jamming with others, it's fun to go lower than an E sometimes, but never necessary. In fact, anything lower than an E flat sounds a bit unnatural to me. I'm thinking about dumping it, but I wanted to see if anyone had a reason why I shouldn't. Not like I'm in desperate need for cash, but I don't like having unnecessary gear lying around.

Any opinions?

The five-string bass isn't for everyone. On the other hand, concluding that you don't need one because you never play any material that requires it, and/or because none of your favorite players play one, is kind of like acknowledging that you'll never evolve past the point where you are now.

There's a principle of economics that comes into play: "Supply creates its own demand." In this context, it would imply that adding greater capability - of any sort - lends itself to the tendency to exploit/develop that capacity. Think about it...

After MANY years of playing four-strings exclusively - partly because I just never liked the feel of the B string whenever I tried out a fiver - I've recently (finally!) invested in several new five-string basses...mostly because the fiver has been calling to me - and I must obey!

MM

 

[tylerwylie]

Oddly enough I spend more time on my 4's and 6's. Maybe I just prefer an even number of strings? Am getting ready to tune m Stingray 4H to BF#BE with a .142 Drop Tuned Set from Circle K strings. We'll see how it works

Also the Clement Bass I'm ordering is a 6.

 

[cassanova]

You don't 'have' to play lower than E. 5-string gives you the option to play E higher on the neck on the B string and have access to more notes... also makes it very easy to transpose songs learning this way.



IMHO.

+1

The additional positions it opens up makes playing certain passages much simpler, especially when it comes to having to play in keys lower than E. That alone makes a 5 an invaluable tool for me.

Personally, I don't care what was originally recorded with. Tasteful use of a B-string can add to ANY music style.

I've been saying & doing this very thing for years. Not once has anyone ever complained about it either. I really don't understand the mindset that a lot of players have when it comes to that. Most people in the crowd sure aren't going to notice, and truth be told, most people in the band usually don't either.

 

[vin*tone]

Consider the most clichéd (but still useful!) country bassline - root, fifth below, root, fifth below... etc. On an EADG bass, if you want to play that pattern under a G chord, you have to play that at the 5th fret on D and A strings. That's so high that it's hardly even in the bass range, and it's going to get in the way of deep male vocals. Playing it at the third fret on the E and B string - that's where it should be.

People have been playing country for decades on a 4. They've been doing it wrong this whole time!

 

[topo morto]

People have been playing country for decades on a 4. They've been doing it wrong this whole time!

Not 'wrong' of course, given the equipment they had - but country music well pre-dates the common availability of extended range basses, and the choices you make given one set of limitations aren't necessarily the same as you'd make given a different set.

 

[steve_rolfeca]

Been playing 5's since about 1984, been receiving compliments ever since. Never been asked to switch back to a 4.

IME, bands are generally more interested in how you use it, than what you've got.

My advice to the OP? People only question your gear if you suck. Play what you like, and learn to play the wheels off it. Then you don't have to worry about trends, or what other people think.

 

[Kitsapbass]

I have both 5's and 4's - when I'm at home, I tend to use the 4 strings, but when I'm playing with the group I gig with, they usually want me to use the 5 string. To be honest, I tend to think of it as a 16 oz. versus a 24 oz. framing hammer - they both get the job done, and it just depends how I want to get it done, with finesse or with brute strength.

 

[Thrill-House]

I own one 4 string, two 5 strings, and a 6 string. They all have their uses, but one thing i do find is that the low B can be very useful for many situation. Even if you dont use the extended low range often, being able to play notes like the low E, F and G up in fifth position is really nice and comfortable. Its definitely something every bass player should at least try.

 

[maritimer]

I waffled back and forth between 4 and 5's. Trouble is that you have two different basses to get used to. May not be an issue for some but as age creeps into the game, I did find myself going for that B on the 4 and then playing the E as a B on the 5. I switched exclusively to the 5 a few years ago and can't go back to a 5 now. In the cover band, I might use the B string for the low D or C maybe 2% of the time. I do; however, use the B string when playing at the 5th fret up more than 30% of the time. It gives you an option. Swiss Army knife as I call it. Plus the B string give you a good thumb anchor

FWIW, if you do play on a worship team or are thinking of joining one, get the 5er. Tons of songs in Eb and those low D's and C's really add some low end thunder to supporting some of the lower volume tunes.

 

[bassbenj]

People have been playing country for decades on a 4. They've been doing it wrong this whole time!

Yes, they have!

Just kidding, of course, because nothing is "right or wrong" in art. It just works or it doesn't. But, as I've pointed out a hundred times, if you check out the notes down at the bottom end of a piano, you'll quickly discover that even though that instrument has been around for centuries, it goes lower than a 5 string. So what were bass players thinking? They can't even compete with a piano and yet they like to think they are covering the "low end"!

So one can infer that the main reason people don't "need" the extended low range is because "It's always been done that way!" Which is just a different way of saying "Jaco didn't need more than 4 strings". Which is the same as saying "Who needs new songs? The old songs, played the way we've always played them are good enough!" <yawns and picks teeth while listening to old songs played the way we've always played them...>

 

[marijn van gils]

Even if you dont use the extended low range often, being able to play notes like the low E, F and G up in fifth position is really nice and comfortable. Its definitely something every bass player should at least try.

Exactly! I rarely go below the low E, and (at the moment) even never below the low D, but I play a lot in position on low E and F on the B-string, so I can stay in position without the need for open strings.

 

[Mokebass]

I bought a 5 string a while back because I thought I may really need it with some of the gigs I was doing, but I've found that I haven't needed it with any of my gigs thus far. I can play it fairly proficiently, about the same as a 4 string. It really makes sense to me, I picked it up rather quickly. The thing is, I was going through my music collection and quickly realized that none of the music I listen to (besides an Erykah Badu live album) incorporates a 5 string. Most, if not all, of my favorite players are 4 string players. When jamming with others, it's fun to go lower than an E sometimes, but never necessary. In fact, anything lower than an E flat sounds a bit unnatural to me. I'm thinking about dumping it, but I wanted to see if anyone had a reason why I shouldn't. Not like I'm in desperate need for cash, but I don't like having unnecessary gear lying around.

Any opinions?

NO. If you cant play it with 4 strings why bother.

 

[SoVeryTired]

NO. If you cant play it with 4 strings why bother.

Some valid reasons for not playing a 5er: "I tried a few and I didn't like them as much as 4 strings. I can't deal with the neck. They're too heavy." (These won't apply to all 5ers.)

Some invalid reasons: "Someone told me not to. My bass hero doesn't play one. I don't need those low notes for the type of music I play."

 

[Thom7]

It's an awesome thumbrest!

 

[alec]

I say get a 5er, but get one with a good solid B string. Try a good 35" (or a Dingwall) so you know what a good one sounds like. Too many 34" scales that I tried had weak inarticulate Bs.

 

[staccatogrowl]

3 reasons 4 5:

1) Possible greater range, as stated by others

2) Possible greater choice of note location, as stated by others

3) Narrower string spacing at bridge is readily available in many models. Personally, I play 5 mainly because of reason 3. As a fingerstylist, narrow suits me best.

There are plenty of players that desire/demand 19mm string spacing at bridge, regardless of string number. And, I am glad that there are many such models available in 5 string to meet that preference.

However, I am very comfortable w/16.5 mm string spacing, so this type of 5 is my fave, especially in context of reasons 1 & 2.

Sidebar: Is narrow string spacing at bridge available on a standard scale production 4 string?

Conclusion: I am quite glad we have so much choice available. Peace!